DECEMBER 20, 2016, SAN DIEGO (NNS) – Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest awarded a $31.7 million contract Nov. 30 in San Diego for the construction of a raw water pipeline at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP).
The project includes facilities to effectively produce, divert, transport, store, measure and deliver raw water from the MCBCP portions of the Santa Margarita River to the Fallbrook Public Utility District service area boundary via a raw water pipeline.
J. R. Filanc Construction Co. Inc. of Escondido was awarded the contract to provide for construction of the raw water pipeline. The construction project provides a physical solution to more than 60 years of litigation via Public Law 111-11, a law in conjunction with a memorandum of understanding between Fallbrook Public Utilities District (FPUD) and the Marine Corps, provides guidance and requirements for the continual shared use of the aquifer.
“NAVFAC, Marine Corps, FPUD and regulatory agencies all came together to provide the best practical solution to a difficult issue with many moving parts,” said Steven Rosenstein, NAVFAC Southwest project manager for this project.
The project includes extensive operational use guidelines and environmental requirements that focus on providing a safe water source for the current users while protecting that resource (the aquifer) for the foreseeable future. The environmental strategies employed on this project not only protect the aquifer but will help protect numerous endangered species and in a couple cases assisting in the restoration of depleted habitats. The Environmental Studies and final Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Impact Statement took approximately six years to complete with parties from Bureau of Reclamation, FPUD, Marine Corps, NAVFAC and Stetson Engineering all contributing to achieve a goal. Once the project was certified and approved, a herculean effort for the full design and award of this project provided a start to finish (award) timeline of 12 months which is approximately six to eight months faster than the standard for a project of this complexity and size.
Work will be performed in Oceanside, Calif., and is expected to be completed by March 2019. Fiscal 2016 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $31.7 million are obligated from this award. NAVFAC Southwest is the contracting activity.